Meh, I'm of two minds here. If I did a spreadsheet I could probably prove (or disprove) whatever theory I wanted to present.
If I stick to facts, I will say that:
--Fifteen years ago I would go shooting about twice per year.
--Ten years ago it was maybe four times per year.
--About five years ago I started collecting my brass, seeing the direction this was going. I also started buying primers at that time, as well as powder.
--About 3 1/2 years ago a friend was leaving the country and willed me his Dillon 450. I started handloading. He returned a year or so later; my wife bought me a Dillon 550 for Christmas and I returned his 450.
Conclusions:
I am not sure how many rounds I have loaded in the last three years, but I have been shooting about once a week for the last 2 1/2- 3 years....mostly .45 acp, but others as well. I have a "fair number" of primers and enough cases, projectiles and powder to use them all.
I have dies and components for such cartridges as 10mm, .41 Mag and .45LC, and have loaded a fair number of each. Each of these cartridges is expensive to buy, and I load them for about 25% of the cost of factory loads.
Bottom line--I have spent a lot of money on presses, dies, components, etc.
Not sure if the amount of ammo I have produced has offset that cost. But I am certain of two things.
1. Were it not for handloading, I would not be able to shoot once a week, and my skills would be at a significantly lower level than they are now.
2. Were it not for handloading, my 10 mm, .41 Mag and .45 LC (and perhaps others) would either never have been bought or would sit in the safe because I could not afford to feed them.